WEC-UFC Talent Merger in the Works?

Talk of a potential migration of the WEC’s 205- and 185-pound
divisions to the UFC could be more than just rumors, and the answer
might play out in the coming months.

For months, rumors have been circulating -– and, occasionally
reported in MMA media outlets -– that the WEC may disband those two
divisions and send some of the top fighters competing there to the
UFC.

Reed Harris, WEC president, declined to confirm or deny the status
of a potential reshuffling of the rosters when contacted Monday by
Sherdog.com. Harris did confirm that the concept has been
acknowledged as a possibility by UFC president Dana White, and
matchmakers Joe Silva and Scott Adams of the UFC and WEC,
respectively.

“We have had some discussions about our weight divisions, but
nothing has been set or finalized,” Harris said. “We’ve heard the
same rumors. We’ve had those discussions since day one. About what
weight classes (might be involved), I really have no official
statement. I know people are talking about it. I’ve had reporters
call me and ask the same questions for eight months about it.”

Indications, both informal and on the record, have been enough to
draw attention to hardcore industry watchers. At a UFC 83 Q&A
session with fans in April, White addressed the question.

"We're going to make the WEC the smaller weights and the UFC will
be the heavier weights,” White told The Canadian Press. “We'll
probably take some of the guys in the higher weights, the champions
over there and bring them into UFC. We're still trying to figure
that out."

Possibly foreshadowing the imminent shift, the WEC’s Sept. 3 show
will headline featherweight champ Urijah Faber(Pictures) in his sixth title defense
against Mike Brown, while 185-pound boss Paulo Filho(Pictures) rematches Team Quest’s Chael Sonnen(Pictures) to put to rest a controversial
March meeting in the co-main event that night.

For the WEC, the move could make sense. While the 135-, 145- and
155-pound divisions have viable depth in their ranks, outside of
Filho and Sonnen, the middleweights lack a top 10 fighter, as does
the light heavyweight division.